Monday, October 18, 2010

Jango Song Of The Day-Gary Puckett & The Union Gap

Artist:Gary Puckett & The Union Gap
Song:This Girl Is A Woman Now
Album:Super Hits





This Girl Is A Woman Now was one of several top ten hits in the late 60s for Gary Puckett & The Union Gap. In the midst of psychedelia and shouts of revolution and protest, record companies attempted to package several bands that looked contemporary but had a sound that was a throwback to a more traditional pop sound. This was designed to appeal to kids and their parents. Gary Puckett & The Union Gap was typical of that kind of attempt and were very successful for a couple of years. Puckett was born Oct. 17, 1942 in Hibbing, MN and grew up in Yakima, WA. While attending college in San Diego, he got involved in the music scene and joined The Outcasts as lead singer. Other members were bassist Kerry Chater, keyboardist Gary Withem, sax player Dwight Bement and drummer Paul Wheatbread. In early 1967, their manager renmamed them Gary Puckett & The Union Gap and put them in Civil War outfits. Columbia Records producer Jerry Fuller saw them at a San Diego bowling alley and signed them to a contract. They had several top ten hits. Their biggest hit Young Girl reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100. But the band wanted to produce their own music and objected to the heavy use of strings on their records. When they refused to record with Fuller, he was replaced by Dick Glasser and he produced This Girl Is A Woman Now. It reached #9 on the Billboard Hot 100. It would be the last top ten hit. Chater & Withem left the band in 1970. Puckett attempted to keep it going but went solo in 1971. You can get all their hits on this budget CD. Gary Puckett has been working the oldies circuit since 1981. Here's Gary Puckett performing This Girl Is A Woman Now 1969. This video is not on Youtube.

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